Coffee cocktail recipe
Carajillo
Licor 43 and espresso make the Carajillo silky and direct. The optional tequila or brandy adds depth, but fresh coffee and a hard shake carry the drink.
- Easy
- Shaken
- Coffee
- Coupe or rocks
Why this spec
The Carajillo is a coffee cocktail with a simple center: Licor 43 for vanilla-citrus sweetness and fresh espresso for bitterness, aroma, and foam. The optional reposado tequila or brandy gives the drink more backbone without taking over.
Shaking makes the texture. The drink should land cold and frothy, not warm and syrupy.
The bottle and the rest
Fresh espresso matters because it brings aroma and foam. Licor 43 is sweet, so the coffee needs enough bitterness to keep the drink from turning soft.
The optional spirit should be used lightly. Reposado tequila leans agave and vanilla; brandy makes the drink rounder and quieter.
The build
Add everything to the shaker
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake until frothy and cold
Shake hard until frothy and cold.
hard shake
Double strain to serve
Double strain into a chilled small coupe or rocks glass over one cube.
Serve up in a chilled small coupe when you want it concise, or over one cube when you want it to relax.
Take it somewhere
No base spirit
Lighter noteSkip the optional tequila or brandy for a lower-proof coffee serve.
Reposado
Agave depth noteUse reposado tequila when vanilla and cooked agave fit the coffee.
Brandy
Rounder noteUse brandy when you want the drink softer and more after-dinner.
Rocks
Slower sip noteServe over one clear cube if the drink will sit for more than a few minutes.
Where it goes wrong
Old espresso
Stale coffee makes the drink taste flat and sweet.
Too much optional spirit
The extra base is an accent. A heavy pour bullies the Licor 43 and espresso.
Weak shake
Without a hard shake, the drink misses the frothy texture that makes it feel finished.
Questions, answered
Is the tequila required?
No. It is optional in this spec. Licor 43 and espresso are the core.
Can I serve it hot?
This Bar Guru spec is shaken cold. A hot Carajillo is a different service style.
Coupe or rocks?
Both work. Coupe is tighter; one cube makes it slower and softer.
Coffee, cold and polished
The Carajillo should feel like coffee service got dressed for the bar. Keep the espresso fresh, the shake hard, and the optional spirit modest.